Maryland House Speaker Jones calls on Gov. Hogan to prevent evictions

As Maryland courts resume hearing failure-to-pay-rent cases this week, Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne A. Jones on Monday called for Gov. Larry Hogan to increase funding to help tenants at risk of being evicted.

”Throughout this pandemic, you have rightly told Maryland families that they are safer at home,” Jones wrote in a letter co-signed by 77 delegates. “But starting this week, thousands of our neighbors may be evicted from their homes, risking their safety and health and Maryland’s economic recovery efforts.”

The letter said the $30 million Hogan previously committed toward helping renters through the coronavirus pandemic was “woefully inadequate.” Jones also referred to the end of the federal moratorium on evictions as well as the expiration of an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits, both at the end of July, as putting many renters in dire straits.

“The recent reduction in federal unemployment benefits will push more renters to the brink of homelessness,” she said.

Read more: https://www.capitalgazette.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-house-speaker-more-eviction-prevention-funds-20200901-ducqhejewzgzfmlihu5l5wwvf4-story.html
(Annapolis Capital Gazette)